Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 24th June 2014
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.
Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

A decade of collaboration between assistance dog charities
Deafblind dog
Angela with dual-trained guide dog Mel.
Celebration of dual-trained dogs for people with double sensory loss

This week (June 23-29) is Deafblind Awareness Week, marking one decade of partnership between Hearing Dogs for Deaf People and Guide Dogs.
 
Over the past 10 years, the two assistance dog charities have worked together, training 25 assistance dog partnerships for people who suffer from combined hearing and sight loss.
 
Lee Stanway from Guide Dogs said: “By working with our colleagues at Hearing Dogs over the last 10 years, we have been able to reach people not just with sight loss but other sensory impairments and give the freedom, confidence and independence they deserve.”
 
Recent research conducted by Sense suggests that there are 356,000 people living with dual sensory loss in the UK. Deafblind Awareness Week aims to improve awareness and understanding of the daily challenges people face.
 
Angie Platten, head of partnership services from Hearing Dogs for Deaf People said: “Hearing dogs are trained to respond to important sounds and danger signals, and help to alleviate the isolation and loneliness that deafness so often brings. 
 
“We work together with Guide Dogs to make a life-changing difference to people with a dual sensory loss, and we hope to create many more of these partnerships in the future.”
 
Ten years ago, Angela Hassall was trained with Roddy, and became the first person in the UK to have a dual-trained guide dog. Roddy is now retired and lives with Angela’s daughter Sarah, and Angela has a new dual-trained Labrador/retriever cross called Mel.
 
Angela said: “Without the two dogs I’ve had, I don’t think I could have carried on. I became very lonely before I got Roddy, but both dogs have given me great joy. Roddy was a brilliant dog who was very friendly and got me talking to people. Mel is very cheeky and a real character, we go everywhere together. I’m very grateful to everyone involved in training these wonderful dogs.”
 
Image courtesy of Guide Dogs.
 
 

 

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.